© - www.indiansnakes.org - 2011
BRAHMINY WORM SNAKE (Ramphotyphlops braminus)
NON-VENOMOUS
-It is very small snake and can grow up to 20cm(Normally 12-15cm) only . -Like all blind snakes, it is non-venomous and cannot even open its mouth to bite humans. -Not thicker than a gel pen refill. -Body color always shiny brown or black . -It is burrowing in nature and spends most of its life under moist soil and heavy objects. -People wrongly assume them as cobra baby of the times. -Male individuals are absent in this species. All are female!! -The species is Parthenogenic – reproduce asexually.
CHEKERED KEELBACK (Xenochrophis piscator )
NON-VENOMOUS
-This is the most common non-venomous snake found around humans. -Color greenish or yellow with black color patches on the whole body. -It can grow up to 5.5ft(Normally 4ft). -Lives in water bodies, sewage lines, mud and any wet areas. -Feeds on fish, frogs & toads, other snakes and rodents. -On provocation it raise its neck like the Cobra and spreads it showing “False Hood” -It’s a very aggressive snake and bites on disturbance almost every time.
STRIPED KEELBACK (Amphiesma stolata)
NON-VENOMOUS
-This is one of the most common non-venomous snake found in India. -Body has many beautiful patterns of various colors. Generally blue and sometimes red with brown stripes posteriorly. -Can grow up to 80cm (normally 60cm). -Diet mostly frogs and toads. -It remains active only at day time (Diurnal) and generally lives in gardens and near vegetation. -It is a very calm snake and will rarely bite.
RAT SNAKE (Ptyas mucosa)
NON-VENOMOUS
-Rat Snake is totally harmless non-venomous snake. -Have many colors from brown to black. -Its upper body always has many band like patterns and it is the distinguishing character for identifying Cobra and Rat snake. -This is the one of the largest snakes of India and can grow up to 11ft (Normally 7-8ft) -Rat snakes are very good climbers and can easily climb on houses and trees. -Feeds mostly on rats, frogs and toads, other snakes and is active only at day time. -Many times they look like Cobra, Banded Racer and Chekered Keelback.
COMMON WOLF SNAKE (Lycodon aulicus)
NON-VENOMOUS
-One of the most common nocturnal species which is widely distributed in India. -Body color brown with yellow or light yellow broad bands. -Can grow up to 80cm(Normally 60cm) -Lives in old houses, cracks, under heavy rocks, brick piles etc. -It is an exclusively nocturnal species and remain hidden during the day time. -Wolf Snakes are very aggressive and may bite more than once on provocation. -It is also a very good climber and like to stay on heights in search of lizards as prey.
BRONZE-BACK TREE SNAKE(Dendrelaphis tristis)
NON-VENOMOUS
-One of the most common arboreal snake. -Body very thin with long prehensile tail. Bronze or brown color stripe runs along the whole body so the name is Bronze Back. -It can grow up to 4ft (Normally 3ft) -It is a diurnal and feeds on lizards, frogs and small birds. -A very good climber & one of the fastest Tree snake of India. -On provocation it thicken its neck and show its beautiful sky blue inter scalar color.
COMMON TRINKET (Coelognathus helena helena)
NON-VENOMOUS
-It is not so common but found almost all over India. -Body has various patterns of reddish, pink, brown, etc. with a brown stripe on posterior body. Head color brown. -Can grow up to 6.5ft(Normally 4ft) -Actives during dusk & dawn and sometimes at late night. -Lives in termite mounds, caves, under heavy rocks etc. -it is mostly silent, but when provoked, coils its fore body into a series of near vertical “S” shaped loops.
GREEN VINE SNAKE (Ahaetulla nasuta)
MILDLY VENOMOUS
-One of three widely distributed “Green Colored” snake in India. -Body very thin with arrow like head and whole body green in color. -Can grow up to 6.5ft(Normally 4ft). -Diurnal and exclusively Arboreal species an rarely come on ground. -Feeds on lizards, frogs and other snakes. -On provocation it thicken its neck and open mouth to show the larger size and also shows the white and black markings on the upper body.
COMMON SAND BOA (Gongylophis conicus)
NON-VENOMOUS
-This is the most common Boa family member and found all over the India. -Body very thick with brown, red or blackish color with dark color patches on the whole body. Also have very rough, thick and small tail. -Can grow up to 3.5ft (Normally 2.5ft). -Feeds on rodents and small birds. -Lives on sandy soil, agricultural lands, gardens, rat holes etc. -It is a lazy species and moves slowly and spends a long time basking in the sun during winters.
INDIAN ROCK PYTHON (Python molurus)
NON-VENOMOUS
-One of the largest snake of India, can grow up to 18ft (Normally 12ft). -Body color generally brown with dark colored patches, head color pink. -It feeds on mammals, birds, rodents and other animals. -It is nocturnal, but likes sun basking during the winters and monsoons. -Lives near water bodies. It is a very good climber & swimmer and spends most of its life near trees and water.
SPACTACLED COBRA (Naja naja) VENOMOUS
-This is the most common venomous snake of India because it likes to live around humans in search of rodents and hiding place. -Color variable from light brown, dark brown, gray or jet black with a distinctive hood. -A beautiful “Spectacle” like mark present on the hood. -Can grow up to 6.5ft (Normally 5.5ft). -Lives in rat holes, termite mounds and almost all kinds of dark places. -Feeds on rats, frogs & toads, other snakes, birds and strictly DO NOT DRINK MILK drink milk!!! -Produce fascinating Hissing and spread its famous Hood on provocation.
COMMON KRAIT(Bungarus caeruleus)
VENOMOUS
-This the one of the most venomous snakes of India ,having a neurotoxin venom which causes paralysis to its victim. -Body color black with white bands (distinguishing feature). -Can grow up to 5.5ft(Normally 4ft) -It feeds on other Snakes mostly, also feeds on Rodents. -It actives only at night i.e. it’s exclusively a nocturnal species. -Lives in Termite mound, Rat holes, Brick piles, under heavy rocks etc. -Venom of this species is assumed to be 16 times more powerful than Cobra.
RUSSELL’S VIPER
(Daboia russelii)
VENOMOUS
-One of the BIG FOUR member of India, Highly Venomous. -This is the most common viper found in India. -Body color brown with oval shaped spots on the whole body & can grow up to 5.5ft. -Active during the night but it likes basking during winter for long time. -Lives in gardens, bushes, grasslands and dry leaves and can hide its body perfectly with the surroundings. -Produce whistle like sound on provocation. -Fangs of this species are second longest in the world after Gaboon Viper(About 3cm).
SAW SCALED VIPER (Echis carinatus)
VENOMOUS
-Second most common Viper of India. It is also Deadly Venomous like other Vipers. -Body color brown or gray with white color patterns and spots along its length. -Can grow up to 80cm(Normally 50cm). -Lives in dry parts like under rocks, dry leaves, rocky plains and deserts. -Feeds on insects, lizards, rodents etc. -Produce fascinating and alerting “Saw” like sound by rubbing the body scales together. -This the one of the world’s fastest striking snake.
SOME MORE SNAKES OF INDIA
BANDED KRAIT
COMMON CAT SNAKE
GREEN KEELBACK
RED SAND BOA
Snake Myths
Snake Related Myths For Discussion …..
Snakes would never harm those who worship them.
Snakes have multiple heads.
All snakes are poisonous.
Cobras have a pearl or a diamond in their head.
Snake bites can be cured with black magic.
Snake oil cures joint pain.
Snakes have memory and will take revenge from anyone who has done wrong to them.
Snakes dance to the sound of a charmer’s “Flute ”
Snakes drink milk.
Snakes spit venom.
Snakes are found where there is treasure.
Eating snake flesh cures diseases.
Snakes have two heads and can go on both sides.
Snake skin is slimy.
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